Dispense valve with disposable fluid body

Abstract

A dispense valve assembly for selectively providing fluid to a nozzle from a cartridge of a dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The dispense valve assembly includes a dispense valve including a valve rod and a dispense valve actuator for actuating the valve rod, as well as a component assembly that includes a valve housing and a nozzle adapter. The valve housing defines a proximal end for releasably attaching to the dispense valve, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and an angled extension defining an inlet. The dispense valve assembly also includes a nozzle adapter defining a proximal end for attaching to the distal end of the valve housing and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The dispense valve assembly also includes a nozzle releasably attached to the distal end of the nozzle adapter. The valve housing can be disposed after a single use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component assembly configured to be releasably attached to a dispensing apparatus that includes a cartridge, the component assembly comprising:
 a valve housing having a proximal end configured to be releasably attached to a dispense valve, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and an angled extension defining an inlet, wherein the valve housing defines a valve bore that extends from the proximal end to the distal end for receiving a portion of a valve rod of the dispense valve, and defines a discharge passage that extends from the inlet of the angled extension to the valve bore and is in fluid communication with the cartridge; and   a nozzle adapter having a proximal end configured to be attached to the distal end of the valve housing, a distal end opposite the proximal end configured to be releasably attached to a nozzle, wherein the nozzle adapter defines a discharge bore that extends from its proximal end to its distal end and is in fluid communication with the valve bore of the valve housing,   wherein the valve housing is configured to be disposed after a single use.   
     
     
         2 . The component assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing is comprised of a polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The component assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer is reinforced nylon. 
     
     
         4 . The component assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the angled extension defines a transducer bore in fluid communication with the discharge passage, wherein the transducer bore is configured to releasably receive a pressure transducer. 
     
     
         5 . The component assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first valve rod seal disposed within the valve bore; and   a second valve rod seal disposed within the valve bore distally from the first valve rod seal.   
     
     
         6 . The component assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first valve rod seal is configured to contact a first wide region of the valve rod and the second valve rod seal is configured to selectively contact a second wide region of the valve rod that is separated from the first wide region by a narrow region. 
     
     
         7 . The component assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the nozzle adapter defines a groove for receiving a seal, wherein the seal is configured to provide a fluid seal between the nozzle adapter and the nozzle. 
     
     
         8 . The component assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the valve housing comprises a flange for engaging at least one retainer attached to the dispense valve. 
     
     
         9 . The component assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the nozzle adapter is configured to be releasably attached to the distal end of the valve housing. 
     
     
         10 . A dispense valve assembly for providing fluid to a nozzle from a cartridge of a dispensing apparatus, the dispense valve assembly comprising:
 a dispense valve including a valve rod and a dispense valve actuator for actuating the valve rod;   a valve housing defining a proximal end configured to be releasably attached to the dispense valve, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and an angled extension defining an inlet, wherein the valve housing defines a valve bore that extends from the proximal end to the distal end for receiving a portion of the valve rod, and defines a discharge passage that extends from the inlet of the angled extension to the valve bore and is in fluid communication with the cartridge;   a nozzle adapter having a proximal end configured to be attached to the distal end of the valve housing, a distal end opposite the proximal end, wherein the nozzle adapter defines a discharge bore that extends from its proximal end to its distal end and is in fluid communication with the valve bore of the valve housing; and   a nozzle configured to be releasably attached to the distal end of the nozzle adapter,   wherein the valve housing is configured to be disposed after a single use.   
     
     
         11 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the valve housing is comprised of a polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer is reinforced nylon. 
     
     
         13 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pressure transducer configured to be releasably received in a transducer bore defined by the angled extension of the valve housing, wherein the transducer bore is in fluid communication with the discharge passage.   
     
     
         14 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first valve rod seal disposed within the valve bore; and   a second valve rod seal disposed within the valve bore distally from the first valve rod seal.   
     
     
         15 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the valve rod has a first wide region configured to contact the first valve rod seal, a second wide region configured to selectively contact the second valve rod seal, and a narrow region that extends form the first wide region to the second wide region. 
     
     
         16 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a seal received in a groove defined by the distal end of the nozzle adapter, wherein the seal provides a fluid seal between the nozzle adapter and the nozzle.   
     
     
         17 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal end of the valve housing comprises a flange, the dispense valve further comprising:
 at least one retainer attached to the dispense valve, wherein the retainer is rotatable between a first position, where the retainer is disengaged from the flange such that the valve housing is separated from the dispense valve, and a second position, where the retainer engages the flange such that the valve housing is coupled to the dispense valve.   
     
     
         18 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 at least one thumb screw for engaging the at least one retainer and the valve housing, wherein the at least one retainer is locked in the first position when the at least one thumb screw engages the at least one retainer and the valve housing.   
     
     
         19 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal end of the nozzle adapter is configured to be releasably attached to the distal end of the valve housing. 
     
     
         20 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one pin for coupling the proximal end of the nozzle adapter to the distal end of the valve housing.   
     
     
         21 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the dispense valve defines a first bore and the valve housing defines a second bore, wherein the first bore extends through a portion of the dispense valve and the second bore extends through the valve housing, the dispense valve assembly further comprising:
 an end effector assembly for attaching the dispense valve assembly to the dispensing apparatus, the end effector assembly comprising:
 a first tab having a first bore and a second bore extending therethrough, wherein the first bore is spaced from the second bore; and 
 a second tab having a first bore and a second bore extending therethrough, wherein the first bore is spaced from the second bore, 
   wherein the first bore of the first tab and the first bore of the second tab align with the first bore of the valve housing when the end effector assembly is attached to the valve housing, and the second bore of the first tab and the second bore of the second tab align with the second bore of the valve housing when the end effector assembly is attached to the valve housing.   
     
     
         22 . The dispense valve assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a first detent pin for coupling the valve housing to the end effector assembly, wherein the first detent pin extends through the first bore of the first tab, the first bore of the valve housing, and the first bore of the second tab; and   a second detent pin for coupling the valve housing to the end effector assembly, wherein the second detent pin extends through the second bore of the first tab, the second bore of the valve housing, and the second bore of the second tab.